The Grateful Deads Jerry Garcia dies at 53

FOREST KNOLLS, Calif.- Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist of the rock band the Grateful Dead, died yesterday morning at a drug rehabilitation center in Forest Knolls, Calif. He was 53. Mr. Garcia died of a heart attack, according to the Marin County sheriffs office. He had suffered from diabetes and ill health for several years. He was also an admitted user of heroin and psychedelic drugs, but in the past few years he had cut down on drugs, stopped smoking, and hired a fitness trainer. Mr. Garcia was lead guitarist, composer and a vocalist for The Grateful Dead whose bestknown songs included Touch of Grey, Truckin and Casey Jones. The band garnered millions of fans over its three-decade career. It earned tens of millions of dollars each year from its concerts, and its devoted fans known as deadheads followed the band from concert to concert. Mr. Garcia started playing guitar at 15, despite missing the tip of his right middle finger due to a childhood accident. He formed the rock band the Warlocks in 1964. Two years later, the band was sitting together trying to think of a new name after learning that another band was using the name the Warlocks. Mr. Garcia opened up a dictionary, saw the words grateful dead heading a page and the band had its new name. Prior to his music career, Mr. Garcia worked as salesman and a teacher. He also served in the army and attended the San Francisco Art Institute. His artwork was used in a line of ties that earned him more than $30 million. The Ben & Jerrys Cherry Garcia ice cream flavored was named after Mr. Garcia. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Koons Garcia; and his daughters, Heather, Annabelle, Teresa, and Keelin.

I dont want people agonizing over who or what I was when I was here, when Im not here anymore, Mr. Garcia said in an interview with KFOG-FM in 1993. I would like to be thought of as a competent musician. Funeral arrangements for Mr. Garcia are undecided at this time.